Local History

Bay County Public Library Local History Room

The Local History Department of the Bay County Public Library houses print materials, artifacts, and photographs.  These do not circulate with the regular library collection, but you are welcome to see these items while the Local History Room is open.  We have city directories dated from the 1930’s, school yearbooks, maps, books on the Bay County area, telephone directories, newspapers, periodicals, and artifacts donated by some of the area’s founding families. The vertical file collection contains family histories and information on various schools, churches, businesses, clubs, and organizations.

The Local History Department welcomes donations of Bay County school yearbooks, church anniversary booklets, old telephone directories, (ca. 1950’s and older), and old photographs. Click on link for the Printable Artifact Donation Form.

We also would like photographs on loan so that we can make copies or scan them for our collection.  Our collection contains over 10,000 photographic images. Click on link for detailed instructions on how to browse the library catalog for Archival Images.

Archival images used in the “Downtown Through The Years” exhibit at the Bay County Public Library in 2021.

Copies of the archival images may be printed for the public for  a modest fee: 5 x 7 $5.00, 8 x 10 $10.00, 11 x 14 $15.00.  The copies take approximately one week. Click on link for the Request for Photo Duplication Form.

Location:

Bay County Public Library
898 W. 11th Street
Panama City, FL 32401

Hours:

Monday – Friday (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CT)